title: Retrospective cost-effectiveness analysis of treatments for aphasia: an approach using experimental data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence supports the effectiveness of speech-language treatment for individuals with aphasia, yet less is known about the cost-effectiveness of such treatments. The purpose of this study was to examine the incremental cost and cost-effectiveness of aphasia treatment using previously published data.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors completed a retrospective cost-effectiveness analysis using experimental data that they extracted from 19 previously published aphasia treatment studies. Average and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated based on participants' pre- and posttreatment proficiency scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average cost-effectiveness ratio for all sessions was $9.54 for each 1% increase in the outcome of interest. Measures of incremental cost-effectiveness indicated that aphasia treatments resulted in statistically significant improvements up to and including 17 treatment sessions. Increases in proficiency occurred at a cost of approximately $7.00 per 1% increase for the first 3 sessions to more than $20.00 in the 14th session; the ratio was either not statistically significant or dominated (more costly and less effective) in later sessions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated that initial aphasia treatment sessions resulted in relatively larger and more cost-effective benefits than did later aphasia treatment sessions. The findings reported here are preliminary and have limitations. Prospective studies are needed to examine the cost-effectiveness of speech-language treatment for individuals with aphasia.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lindrooth
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001037:Aphasia / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017059:Models, Econometric; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology / Q000191:economics*